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Twitter is reportedly developing a trio of misinformation warning labels, according to app researcher Jane Manchun Wong.
Based on a screenshot Wong tweeted on Monday, the tiered system appears to change depending on the individual post’s accuracy—from “Get the latest” (blue) to “Stay informed” (orange) to “Misleading” (pink). Each label features a prompt directing viewers to “Find out more” about the tweeted topic.
Wong, who is known for uncovering hidden features in apps and online services, experimented with the new system, tweeting things like “Snorted 60 grams of dihydrogen monoxide and I’m not feeling so well now,” which generated a “Get the latest” label with more details on water.
Her post claiming that “In 12 hours, darkness will ascend in parts of the world” activated the “Stay informed” badge, inviting people to “Learn more about the concept of timezones.” And the message that “We eat. Turtles eat. Therefore we are turtles” received a “Misleading” marker, with Twitter noting that the statement is a logical fallacy.
As Gizmodo pointed out, the feature—which may never make it out of the development phase—is a sort of double-edged sword. On the one hand, it could help reduce the spread of misinformation and provide context for viewers. On the other hand, it raises concerns about censorship. Twitter did not immediately respond to PCMag’s request for comment.
The social network began clamping down on the spread of misinformation last year, promising to more aggressively label and hide political posts, provide more context on trending items, enhance the security of high-profile accounts, and curb COVID-19 conspiracy theories with warnings.
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